On Saturday 4th August 2018, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust join Sheffield Environmental for the return of their Hen Harrier Day event at Devonshire Green in Sheffield.
For the past five years, Hen Harrier Day rallies have been held as a peaceful protest across the UK, celebrating our fantastic birds of prey and calling for an end to their illegal persecution on our uplands.
The event will start at 11.00am with a line-up of leading environmental and wildlife conservation speakers who will talk about their views on the issue and what their organisations are doing to improve the fortunes of birds of prey and try to increase their protection.
Liz Ballard, Chief Executive of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust will compere and speak at the event, alongside:
- Georgia Locock, young blogger and campaigner
- Professor Ian Rotherham, Sheffield Hallam University
- Jon Stewart, General Manager, National Trust in the Peak District
- Cathleen Thomas, RSPB Hen Harrier Life+ Project Manager
- Natalie Bennett, The Green Party
In 2011, a Joint Nature Conservation Committee commissioned report estimated that England could support a potential hen harrier population of more than 300 pairs. In 2017 there were just three. There has been better news this year with a number of successfully fledged nests thanks to the great work of dedicated conservationists, but hen harrier numbers remain well below the level they should be, as they and other birds of prey are routinely found poisoned or shot close to grouse moors. You can find out more about this issue at https://www.wildsheffield.com/birds-of-prey.
This year’s event also sees the addition of stalls from various conservation organisations including Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust. We’ll be providing information about Our Moors, our campaign calling for an end to wildlife persecution and intensive moorland management practices.
Sheffield Hen Harrier Day is open to all and free of charge.
For more information about Sheffield Hen Harrier Day, visit the Facebook event page or Sheffield Environmental’s website: www.sheffieldenvironmental.net/henharrier